The Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a genus of prehistoric bear that originated during the Middle Pleistocene epoch in what is now Europe and Asia.
In the Series 3 finale "Mammoth's Undertaking Journey", a family of Cave Bears were brought to the park from Late Pleistocene Europe, 30,000 years ago. They reside in the Bear Country Enclosure with other prehistoric and modern bears.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
The Cave Bear lived in Eurasia during the Late Pleistocene period from 100,000 to 10,000 years ago. They coexisted with other ice age animals such as Megaloceros, Woolly Rhinoceros, Cave Lions, Cave Hyenas, Arctotherium, Ice Age humans, Elasmotherium, and even the mighty Woolly Mammoths. They were among the largest Ice Age European carnivores that had ever been seen.
The first Cave Bear fossils were discovered in 1774 by German physician Johann Friedrich Esper.
Physical Attributes[]
Standing 4.39 feet tall and weighing 750 kilograms, the Cave Bear was one of the biggest bears to have lived and weighs more than the modern Grizzly Bear.
Cave Bears had sharp claws that use against any animals that could threaten them or against rival males when competing for a mate. Their diet was similar to modern bears and often ate plants and honey, but would scavenge meat from animals that were killed by other predators such as wolves, Cave Lions, and Cave Hyenas.
Cave Bear skeleton
Behavior & Traits[]
Like modern bears, Cave Bears lived a solitary life and often scavenged for meat left from kills made by other animals.
Journal Entry[]
Gallery[]
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Trivia[]
- The Cave Bear is the second prehistoric bear brought to the park.